Friday Night SmackDown from Barcelona opened with Jade Cargill in the ring alongside B-Fab and Michin. Jade addressed her upcoming title match against Rhea Ripley at Clash in Italy, but Ripley quickly interrupted.
Rhea accused Jade of surrounding herself with people to make herself look stronger. Jade fired back, claiming B-Fab and Michin were with her because they wanted some of her power. She also told Rhea that the women around her did not even like her.
That brought out Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Alexa warned Jade that she had already beaten better women in WWE, leading Nick Aldis to make Alexa vs. Jade official for right away.
Alexa Bliss vs. Jade Cargill
Jade controlled most of the match, using her power advantage against Alexa. She even powerbombed Bliss onto the ring barricade before the commercial break.
After the break, Charlotte and Rhea tried to encourage Alexa as Jade continued to dominate. Alexa finally started fighting back, but Michin got involved behind the referee’s back. That led to Charlotte, Rhea, B-Fab and Michin brawling away from ringside.
Alexa hit the Bliss DDT and went for Twisted Bliss, but Jade got her knees up. Cargill followed with a pump kick and Jaded to score the win.
Jade was not finished. After the match, she hit Alexa with another Jaded onto a steel chair. Charlotte and Rhea rushed back out to stop Jade from doing more damage.
Backstage, Cody Rhodes was being interviewed when Sami Zayn interrupted and demanded an apology for what happened last week. Cody told Sami that he stood by and watched Gunther take him out. Sami claimed he did it to teach Cody a lesson, but Cody warned him that after he handled Gunther tonight, Sami would be next.
Nick Aldis was then shown backstage with Danhausen, telling him not to conduct any experiments during the show. The Miz walked in and asked to postpone his match against Axiom because Kit Wilson was not allowed into the country.
As they talked, Danhausen quietly moved equipment around in the background, including a container marked with a skull and crossbones.
The Miz vs. Axiom
The Miz faced Spain’s own Axiom next. Early in the match, the lights suddenly went out for a moment as Axiom started using his speed and athletic ability against Miz.
After the commercial break, Miz hit Axiom with a DDT for a near fall. Axiom answered with a flying crossbody for two, but Miz caught him with a powerbomb after bouncing him off the ropes.
Miz climbed to the top rope, but the lights went out again. The distraction allowed Axiom to hit a Spanish Fly, followed by the Golden Ratio, to pick up the win.
Afterward, Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett argued over whether Danhausen caused the lighting problems or whether the heat in Europe was to blame.
Backstage, R-Truth told Damian Priest that he still was not cleared to compete, but he had found Priest a partner for his match against the MFTs. Royce Keys then appeared, although Priest made it clear that he only wanted to team with Truth.
Truth asked both men whether they were scared, and both said they were not.
Sami Zayn was later shown complaining to Candice LeRae before the camera revealed Johnny Gargano lying on some nearby steps. Matt Cardona walked in and pointed out that things were not going well for either of them.
The two started arguing, and Sami challenged Cardona to a match later in the night.
Charlotte was then shown helping an injured Alexa backstage when Rhea approached them. Ripley promised that she would handle Jade at Clash in Italy. Charlotte responded that if Rhea could not do it, she would.
Damian Priest and Royce Keys vs. MFT
Damian Priest reluctantly teamed with Royce Keys to face Talla Tonga and Tanga Loa, who were accompanied by Solo Sikoa.
Priest and Keys managed to work together early in the match. Later, Keys made the hot tag to Priest, who started taking out both opponents.
Solo then hit Priest with a Samoan Spike behind the referee’s back. R-Truth ran down and attacked Solo, while Keys stopped Sikoa from hitting Truth with another Samoan Spike.
Back in the ring, Talla Tonga hit Priest with the T-Bomb Chokeslam to win the match for MFT.
The Miz later confronted Nick Aldis backstage and screamed at him over the lights going out during his match. Aldis said he would look into it, but soon found Danhausen working on his experiments.
Miz stormed in and blasted Danhausen with a fire extinguisher.
Chelsea Green then approached Tiffany Stratton backstage, but Stratton told her that she would not be in her corner tonight. Chelsea was clearly hurt by the decision and told Tiffany she would see her later.
Sami Zayn vs. Matt Cardona
Sami Zayn and Matt Cardona went back and forth early, with Cardona sending Sami to the floor and hitting a dropkick through the ropes.
Sami soon took control after tripping Cardona from ringside and suplexing him back into the ring. He continued to wear Cardona down with strikes and a chin lock, but Cardona fought back with clotheslines, a facebuster and the Woo Woo Boot.
Cardona avoided the Blue Thunder Bomb and hit a Tiger Bomb for a near fall. Sami later blocked the Rough Ryder and hit a powerbomb, but Cardona kicked out.
Cardona finally connected with the Rough Ryder, but Sami got his foot on the bottom rope before the referee could complete the count.
Cardona tried to finish Sami with a superplex, but Sami knocked him down from the turnbuckles. Sami then hit an exploder into the corner, followed by the Helluva Kick, to pick up the victory.
Winner: Sami Zayn
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett then discussed the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. The finals will take place on June 27, with the winners earning championship matches at SummerSlam.
Backstage, Lil Yachty knocked on Trick Williams’ door before the two were shown walking together.
Nick Aldis told Gunther and Cody Rhodes that he would give them television time, but wanted things kept civilized. Gunther acted surprised by the request, saying he was not an animal. He promised to keep things civil and only attack Cody verbally by telling him exactly how he felt. Gunther then suggested that WWE visit Madrid the next time the company comes to Spain. Trick Williams then made his way to the ring alongside Lil Yachty, who introduced himself as the man who makes everything possible.
Trick said he had been carrying the brand for a long time and had recently done what was best by dealing with The Miz and Carmelo Hayes. He claimed there was no better superstar to represent the brand before announcing that he was entering the King of the Ring tournament.
Carmelo Hayes interrupted and mocked Trick’s announcement. Hayes said Trick may be king of the microphone and king of the entrance, but he was not King of the Ring. Hayes said he would deal with Ricky Saints tonight before eventually coming after Trick’s United States Championship.
Trick dismissed Hayes’ comments as excuses and called him “MELOdramatic,” while Hayes promised to beat him down. Trick then mocked Hayes’ height, saying that if he grew an inch for every excuse he made, they might finally be able to stand face to face. Ricky Saints then came out and said nobody wanted to watch Trick and Hayes continue their drama. Ricky reminded Hayes that he sucker punched him and warned that once he was finished with Hayes, he was coming for Trick’s title.
Trick accused Ricky of telling lies, striking poses and acting like a bobblehead. He said Ricky and Hayes could figure out between themselves who deserved a title match because he had no problem proving he was the king. Ricky responded by calling Trick the “King of Delusion,” leading Trick to slap him across the face.
Ricky Saints vs. Carmelo Hayes
The match was already underway when SmackDown returned, with Ricky Saints unloading on Carmelo Hayes with punches and chops. Hayes responded with a dropkick before trapping Ricky’s legs in the ropes and hitting a springboard leg drop.
Ricky fought back with a clothesline and strikes in the corner, but Hayes stopped his momentum with a kick and an enzuigiri before continuing the attack with chops. Hayes took control with a corner splash and continued attacking Ricky with kicks, forearms and stomps. However, when Hayes attempted a springboard move, Ricky shoved him over the top rope to the floor and repeatedly sent him into the ringside barrier.
Instead of staying on the attack, Ricky returned to the ring to pose for the crowd. He later hit Hayes with a belly-to-back suplex and a knee drop for a near fall before slowing things down with a chin lock.
Hayes fought back with a suplex and several strikes, but Ricky cut him off with an uppercut. The two exchanged slaps and punches before Ricky hit another suplex and placed Hayes on the turnbuckles.
Hayes managed to knock Ricky down and attempted a frog splash, but Ricky got his knees up. Ricky followed with a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall.
Hayes later countered a tornado DDT into a rollup before hitting a DDT of his own from the top rope. Both men continued trading shots until Hayes connected with a springboard clothesline and La Mistica for another near fall.
Ricky answered with a DDT, but the match soon spilled outside the ring. Hayes hit a flip dive onto Ricky, while Ricky later sent Hayes over the barricade. Hayes responded with a clothesline from the barrier, but neither man made it back into the ring before the referee completed the count.
Result: Double Count Out
After the match, Ricky attacked Hayes from behind and tried to lift him onto his shoulders. Hayes escaped, hit a superkick and followed with First 48, sending Ricky to the floor.
A video package then aired focusing on Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi.
Backstage, Nia Jax and Lash Legend approached Tiffany Stratton and told her she made the right decision by not being in Chelsea Green’s corner. Nia said she would take care of Chelsea, while Lash made it clear that she intended to bring the title home.
Blake Monroe appeared in a video package and said there were many fascinating women in the SmackDown locker room, especially Rhea Ripley. Blake praised Rhea’s presence and brutality, but claimed she was hiding behind the fear she creates in others.
Blake said she turns heads simply by showing up and warned Rhea that she would not be able to avoid her much longer. She then revealed that she was coming to SmackDown.
Nia Jax vs. Chelsea Green
Chelsea Green immediately tried to escape when the bell rang, but Nia Jax caught her and tossed her across the ring twice.
Chelsea managed to avoid a corner splash and slapped Nia before sending her to the floor and hitting a suicide dive. Nia quickly regained control inside the ring, slamming Chelsea face-first into the mat and continuing to overpower her.
Chelsea eventually fought back after Nia missed a leg drop. She hit a Zig Zag for a near fall, followed by a missile dropkick and the Rough Ryder for another close count.
Chelsea then went after Lash Legend at ringside with a dropkick through the ropes. Nia took advantage by hitting a Samoan drop and preparing for the Annihilator.
Before Nia could finish the match, Tiffany Stratton’s music played. As Nia looked toward the entrance, Tiffany appeared and struck her with the championship belt. Chelsea covered Nia and picked up the win.
Winner: Chelsea Green
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Brie Bella and Paige about the targets on their backs as champions. Before Brie could finish answering, Fatal Influence interrupted.
Jacy Jayne questioned why Brie and Paige were getting the spotlight before announcing that she was entering the Queen of the Ring tournament. Lainey Reid then warned the champions that they would not hold the titles much longer.
Jacy closed by saying that everyone would soon be under their influence.
Cody Rhodes then made his way to the ring and asked the crowd what they wanted to talk about. Before he could continue, Gunther interrupted.
Gunther said that although he was new to SmackDown, he had already realized that everything on the show had to revolve around Cody. He accused Cody of being a product of ego and nepotism, claiming that everything in his career had been one phone call away.
Gunther said he had earned everything he achieved, while Cody was handed opportunities because of his name. He called Cody an entitled brat and said that although they shared the same profession, they were nothing alike.
Gunther claimed that Cody constantly needed approval from the fans, while his only goal was to be the best professional wrestler and protect the sport from people like Cody. He finished by saying Cody was not a true champion, but simply his own biggest fan.
Cody admitted that he believed in himself, but called Gunther a liar. He said every wrestler dreams of being on the posters, appearing in major matches and hearing fans react to them.
Cody said Gunther wanted those things too, or he would still be wrestling in front of small crowds instead of showing up in the best condition of his career on WWE television.
Cody then said Paul Heyman once warned him what being champion would bring, but never told him how addictive it could become. Cody said Gunther was addicted to it too and warned him that he would soon find out he was not as good as he believed.
Cody started to leave the ring, but Gunther grabbed him and reminded him of his past promises. Gunther said he promised to choke out Goldberg, AJ Styles and John Cena, and delivered every time.
Gunther then promised Cody that he would choke him out, drop him in the ring and leave with the championship as SmackDown went off the air.
